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Enhanced LENS® Thermal Imaging Capabilities Introduced by Optomec

Optomec today announced availability of an enhanced ThermaViz thermal
imaging capability for its family of LENS (Laser Engineered Net Shaping)
metal 3D Printers. ThermaViz, which is developed by Stratonics, Inc., is
an advanced system that provides high-resolution, high accuracy thermal
images showing temperature maps in and around the LENS melt pool. With
new features and improved software, the enhanced ThermaViz system adds
new user-friendly features that speed the LENS qualification process for
repair and rework of high value metal components.

Dr. Kathy Flores, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials
Science at Washington University in St. Louis, is one of the leading
users of the LENS ThermaViz feature. She stated, “We selected the
Optomec LENS system thanks to its industry-leading capability in laser
additive manufacturing. Using the enhanced ThermaViz Thermal Imaging
capability, we have measured temperatures in and around the LENS process
melt-pool with accuracy and precision. Measured temperatures have been
shown to correlate very well with thermal models of the process. The
combination of the LENS process with the ThermaViz system has provided a
significant benefit to our team speeding materials research and
development.”

Optomec LENS 3D Printing systems are used to cost-effectively repair and
rework high-performance metal components in materials such as titanium,
stainless steel and superalloys. LENS systems use the energy from a
high-power laser to build up structures one layer at a time directly
from powdered metals. The resulting fully functional material offers
excellent mechanical properties, similar to forged components for many
applications. LENS systems are used throughout the entire product
lifecycle for applications ranging from Materials Research to Repair and
Rework to Low Volume Manufacturing.

Using the Stratonics
ThermaViz system to monitor melt pool temperature and cooling rate,
valuable process control information is available to the user. The
ThermaViz capability is in production use at a number of LENS customer
sites, and measured results have correlated well with predicted results,
thereby reducing new material and process development time and cost. New
features include the ability to measure temperatures as low as 600C, the
ability to capture images at higher frame rates and more. Details are
available here.

Optomec is a leader in the emerging field of Additive Manufacturing. Its
patented solutions are gaining traction in end markets ranging from
Consumer Electronics, to Energy and Life Sciences, to Aerospace and
Defense. Optomec's patented Aerosol Jet® solution is used to
produce 2D/3D Printed Electronics, reducing the size and cost of
electronic systems by using nano-materials to directly print fine
feature circuitry, embedded components and miniaturized devices. The
Company's LENS® solution is a 3D Printer for Metals that is
used to fabricate and repair high value metal components. Optomec is a
growing, U.S.-based small business with a global customer base of more
than 150 marquee users.

LENS is aregistered trademark of Sandia National Laboratories.Aerosol
Jet is a registered trademark of Optomec, Inc.ThermaViz is
a registered trademark of Stratonics, Inc.